Those I Like Ike days were before Dr Watson's mind control methods recreated the TV broadcast medium. The very act of showing on TV what was actually happening was so novel that no efforts were being made to create a false story line full of mythical characters. Today that is the fictional media's job complete with Evil hicks like Palin and super heroes like Obama(See, Journolist). The cartoon of reality that young people perceive makes them throw up their hands and select a Lady GaGa as the most authentic person now available.

What's hysterical is seeing Obama bumper stickers, Mr. Jobs Created Or Saved himself, on cars made on foreign shores. Hysterical in the same way as the noose breaking when the condemned falls through trapdoor.

What a difference a half century has made in the world. It has been relatively peaceful compared to the half century before it, despite extensive turmoil and saber rattling. Maybe nuclear weapons are to blame. Can they get a little reach around for a change.

Tax brackets didn't mean much back then, virtually nobody actually paid them at the top. Revenues have remained relative constant in GDP terms, because we have traded lower rates for higher compliance (less work arounds). Spending in GDP terms has, unfortunately skyrocketed. That, in a nutshell, explains the current fiscal situation almost entirely.